Adjustable rib



June 19, 1945. H, Tm'wELL' Y 2,378,515

ADJUsfA pE RIB Filed Feb. 1% 1944 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor ae/-2 mu /z June 19, 1945. I H. T IDWl ELL ADJUSTABLE RI B Filed Feb. l8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 4 7 3 L v. u M 43 v Huber 771411 B1 3" Mama;

I Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJU'STABLEBIB Hubert Tidwell, Washington, no. Application February 18, 1944, Serial No. 522,954

a claims. (01. 18-9-34) This invention relates to an adjustably variable stay or rib which is especially, but not necessarily,

adapted for use as aflexible bow in the frame could then be brought into adjacent overlappingrelationship and, with the fabric, rolled intoa compact bundle. However, the principal and only part in which I .am presently interested is a novel bendable bow or stay which is convertible from a substantially rigid to a flexible state and vice versa. p More specifically, the invention relies for novelty on a flexible steel or cquivalent'metal riblike bow construction, suitable for incorporation in the frame structure, of collapsible pocket-type umbrella, but equally well employable in other lines of endeavor, thepreierred representative embodiments being characterized by interconnected relatively shiftable coactingv parts which, when said parts are in a predetermined relationship the rib is flexibly rigid and bowable and, when said parts arein other relative positions the bow can, under such circumstances, be rolled into compact coiled form.

I .Other features and advantages will {become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative draw ings. I

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are I employed to designate like parts throughout-the various views: a g

Figure lisa iragmentaryendiview, in elevation, showing one form' of bow or constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention,'the parts in this view being adjusted for rendering the overall unit substantially rigid.

Figure v:2 is a view like Figure 1 .s'howingthe .respective sections or parts shifted to coating positions to render the structure collapsible and rollable. I V

Figure 3. is a top plan view of the structure-seen Fisu e 1 i -.-Figure 4is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 2. I Y r Figure 5 is a cross section on the plane ofthe line 5+5 of Figure 2. I

Figure '6 is a perspective able section. g s

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the outer relatively stationary enclosing 'or sheath section.

Figure 8 is an edge elevational view showing the sections relatively shifted to "render the bow or rib flexible, whereby to permit it to be either flexed as shown or rolled into a complete compact coil.

Figure 9 is an elevational view showing how-the convolutions or 'coils 'nest in spiral form when the complete bow is coiled or rolled upon itself.

Figure 10 is a View like Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention, this being afl'a't cross-sectional type, as distinguished from the L-shaped crossesectional type in Figure 1.

Figure .11 is .a Viewv like Figure. 10 showing the sections or parts shifted with certain portions registering to render the complete structure readily bendable and rollable.

Figure 12 is a view showing the reverse side of the structure depicted-inFigure 10. V

Figure 13 is a cross section on the planeof the line it-l3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view detailing the angularity and bendless than a coil.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the blank from which the inner slide section is fashioned.

Figure 1''? is a fiat plan view of the blank'from which the outer. relatively stationary sheath section is fashioned. 1

In the two modifications illustrated, one is L- shaped in cross-sectional form .as shown in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive. The other is substantially flat inform as brought out in Figure 13. However, in bothtor'ms or types the principles and fundamentals are the same in that we have two telescopically connectedsections, the outer-section formingsort of a sheath, the innersectiona corelike slide which shifts back and forth .in the sheath. The two sections are formed with slit break joint portions which when the slits register permit both sections to roll or bend freelyras a unit. When the inner section is shifted to a position so that its edge portions bridge the slits in the edge portions oi the outer or sheath section the two sections become substantially rigid but view-of the inner sl-id- V section is indicated at H].

'ing channel.

only to a degree to permit the rib, as a unit, to bow. Thus, we have a flexible or bendable rib, or a rib which can be converted into one susceptible of being rolled into a substantially compact bundle, as brought out for example in Figure 9.

Attention is first directed to Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, illustrating the so-called L-shaped rib or bow. Although sheet material, generally speaking, is susceptible of use in constructing the bow or rib I prefer, obviously, to use a high grade steel. The drawings tend to exaggerate the size of the device but in practice, it will be much smaller, not quite as narrow as a stay or rib in present-day umbrellas. The outer relatively stationary section is denoted by the numeral l8 and the core-like inner shiftable or slide Reference being had to the part It in Figure 7, it will be observed that it comprise a body or strip portion 20 having marginal flanges bent laterally as at 2! and inwardly as at 22 to form a longitudinally extend-=- This channel accommodates the laterally directed flanges 23 extending from one edge portion of the strip or body 26 of the inner slidable section 19. The respective sections it v and It fit telescopically together in shiftable or ample, in Figures 1 and 3, and the open position seen in Figures 2 and 4.

Referring now to the other form of the invention depicted in Figures 10 to 17, inclusive, we have the fiat type rib or bow. The outer sheath section is here denoted by the numeral 33 and the inner slide or core section is denoted at 34. The section 33 is provided with inbent flanges 35 forming channels or sheaths for the edge portions of the inner section 34. The latter edge portions are also bent upon themselves as indicated at 36 in Figure 13. This is simply for sake of rigidity. The same slotting principle is also disclosed in these figures. That is to say, the outer relatively stationary sheath is formed with T-shaped slots 37 and the inner slide is provided with coacting or =companion T-shaped slots 31a. The slots can be either registered or disaligned to provide the desired open and closed, respective positions of said sections. It will be noted that by using parallel pairs of T-shaped slots and opening the slots through the opposite longitudinal edge portions of both sections, the portions of the band or body 38, that is, the areas indicated at the points 39 are relatively narrow highly flexible webs. It is the webs 39 which provide the desired flexing feature as brought out to advantage in Figure 14.

. In other words, the major segments ar substanor flange portion 2| are disposed in outwardly diverg nt relationship as indicated at the points 26 and 21. The coacting or companion section I9 is formed with corresponding T-shaped slots 25a and the flange portions 23 have the stem portions of the slots extending therethrough in dione another so that the final rolled article or device assumes a somewhat helical form. When the respective T-shaped slots in the sections are disaligned, the solid portions 23 Of the section I9 bridge the slot portions of the section 18, thus permitting the two sections to 'coact in providing for greater degree of rigidity. However, and even in the latter positions the two sections form a rib which can be forcibly flexed, endwise, into a bow, that is, an arcuate bow. In other words,

tially rigid in themselves but the strap-like webs 39 between the rigid sections flex sufliciently to allow rolling or ceiling.

Figures 16 and 17 .are merely employed to bring out the configuration or formation of the two metal blanks from which the parts 33 and 34 are actually fashioned.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have evolved and produced a sectional bow or rib which is susceptible of incorporation in a collapsible pocket type umbrella. However, and as before stated, I am primarily interested in the construction of the bow or rib per se and the fact that when the coacting telescoping sections are closed the two parts coact in forming the rib which has suflicient flexibility t8 bow longitudinally into an approximate half-circle. When, however, the parts are shifted to open position then they are sufficiently flexible to be rolled into a compact package as illustrated for example in Figure 9.

An adjustable bow of this type could be used in many different lines of endeavor since the sheath on the outside is in effect a track, and the inside part is a slide, and since it is possible to relatively adjust the two sections to regulate the degree of flexibility from a casual longitudinal bow to a convenient and compact coil.

-It i thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to even with the parts in the relationships shown in bowed longitudinally, or one which can be rendered sufliciently flexible when the parts are properly shifted to be rolled into a compact coil. In practice, the inner slide section is provided with a finger piece or operating element 29 with tremes. v planation the closed posit1on 1S seen, for ex- Incidentally, and by Way of further exobtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrange- 4 ment of details coming within the fleld of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rib-lik bow of the class described comprising a longitudinally elongated device embodying an exterior section including a lateral edge channel forming a sheath, a relatively movable section in'slidable contact therewith and having a flanged portion adjustably mounted in posed T-shaped slots having portions opening through the walls of the channel, and a slide having longitudinal edge portions adjustable in said channel and also having T-shaped slots movable into and out of registration with the T-shaped slots in the sheath in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. A freely bendable rib-like bow of the class described comprising a longitudinally elongated device embodying an exterior section including a lateral edge slotted and coilable channel forming a. sheath, a relatively movable section in slidable contact therewith and having a flexible flanged portion adjustably mounted in said sheath to render the latter alternatively rigid and bendable at will.

' HUBERT 'I'IDWELL. 

